Round 10: What a Strong Box!

Tobias HenkeSaturday, September 04, 2010

Kevin Grove vs. Paul Rietzl

"In my younger days, I used to do a lot of trash talk," Paul Rietzl said, breaking the silence during shuffling. Rietzl has one Pro Tour Top 8 to his name, from Honolulu, and is no doubt looking for a repeat here.

"And you grew out of it?" asked his opponent, Kevin Grove, last year's Netherlands National Champion.

"Nah, I just figured I couldn't back it up anymore."

Game 1

Rietzl won the die roll, chose to play first, and had the first play with Gargoyle Sentinel. Grove just played a third Mountain and passed the turn. Rietzl summoned Howling Banshee to put both players at 17, Grove made just another Mountain and passed again. But when Gargoyle and Banshee ventured into the red zone, the latter took a terminal hit from Chandra's Outrage. (Grove at 14, Rietzl at 15.)

Kevin Grove, left, and Paul Rietzl don't talk trash—they just play good Magic.

Grove finally managed to crack the amazingly strong Strongbox and summoned Fire Servant. Rietzl, however, had Act of Treason to take the Fire Servant, supposedly until end of turn—in fact until the end of the game.